Find Your Ancestors in the Newly-Released 1931 Canadian Census

If you have ancestors from Canada, you know that there is a Canadian census, like ours, conducted every ten years, but unlike ours, a complete national census is not available before 1871, since Canada did not become a confederation until 1867. The first census for the Confederation of Canada covers just the four original provinces: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, and Ontario. The next census, in 1881, covered the entire country as it existed then. There are earlier censuses for Canada, but they are for individual provinces and territories. All these early censuses are digitized and available online, most on FamilySearch for free and on Ancestry and Findmypast with a subscription. For a complete listing of available Canadian censuses and where they are located, see the article in the FamilySearch wiki, called “Canada Census.”

Searching for Canadian Ancestors

Library and Archives Canada

If you have Canadian ancestors in your family tree and you are looking for online assistance with your research, the best place to get started is the wonderful website of the Library and Archives Canada (LAC). Start on their home page to learn more about the records they have and/or to submit information to their ongoing Canadian heritage projects. Across the top is a tab bar, and by hovering your mouse over a tab, you will see the drop-down menus in each category. For instance, in the illustration below, you can see the contents of the Discover the Collection tab.

Of course, you can explore, but if you want to go directly to their genealogy offerings, you can do so on their "Genealogy and Family History" page. Here is where you will find databases, sources for research by topic (census, military, immigration, etc.), and sources for genealogy research by location in Canada. There are also links to searching archival records, published sources, digitized photos, maps, and records specific to different ethnic groups. Instructions appear on that page on how to access the records and how to visit the actual library, which is located in Ottawa. You will also find contact information and ways to request assistance.

The "Links and Related Research" page is exactly what you need if you want to look for specific resources by Canadian province or by other countries. You will find dozens of links here to genealogical and historical societies as well as libraries and archives (including religious archives of all faiths) across Canada and several other countries.

Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21

Another helpful resource, the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, is located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and also has an interesting website. The museum occupies part of the pier that functioned as an immigration station from 1928 to 1971 and a departure point for about half a million Canadian soldiers during World War II. As you did on the previous site, you will want to explore the drop-down menus on the tab bar. 

The selection under the Research tab will be especially helpful in learning more about what is available and how to access it. Unlike the LAC, this facility does not have actual records; however, they are happy to assist you in finding what you need and in answering questions. If you or your family are recent immigrants and have stories to share, this museum has an active oral history project and instructions for submitting digital files are also under the Research tab.

(Thanks to StLGS volunteer, Barb Ilges, for alerting us to this helpful website.)